Amplifier for sound-reproducing machines



W. E. PUGSLEY.

AMPLIFIER FOR SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR- 23.1920 1,360,577, Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

awmmtoz W. E. PUGSLEY.

AMPLIFIER FOR SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED APR-23,1920.

1 ,360,577. Patented NOV. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- witness v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDWARD P'UGSLEY, or GRAND RAPIDS, moment.

AMPLIFIER FOR SOUND-BEPRODUCING MACHINES.

Application filed April 23,

To all whom it may concern:

ie it known that I, WVILLIAM E. PUcsLnY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent-and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amplifiers forSound-Reproducing Machines and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved amplifier for sound reproducingmachines.

Devices of the above mentioned class are numerous and of many differenttypes and constructions and each one, as a rule, has for its object toimprove upon the other similar devices by amplifying and improving thetone so that it will be free from all objectionable'unmusical sounds. Inother words, all of these devices are constructed with a view of makingthem acoustically perfect in every respect. So far as I am aware thesedevices fail in this respect.

My device is likewise constructed with a view of overcoming allobjections as much as possible and it has for its object to provide adevice of this class which is different in construction, is more novel,and is an improvement in many respects over any similar devices known tome; one that will produce a tone which is absolutely faultless due tothe fact that the construction I employ renders the device acousticallyperfect and removes all defects heretofore encountered. V

Otherobjects and advantages ofthe inven-jtion will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompany ng drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to--designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a phonograph cabinetequipped with a device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of Fig. 1. V

In carrying out my invention I employ a conduit, which I attach to theusual tone arm. This conduit is shaped and constructed Specification ofLetters Eatent.

2 is a horizontal sectional view taken Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

1920. Serial no. emcee,

to approximate as nearly as possible, the human throat. Communicatingwith this throat and arranged at right angles to it, is a soundamplifying chamber which is designed to simulate the human mouth.

In the drawings, wherein the preferred construction of my device isshown, the numeral l designates a phonograph cabinet, which may be anyconventional construction and which is equipped with a record disk 2,the speed of which is controlled by suitable governor mechanism 3. Inaddition to these,

have also shown a tone arm 4, and it is with this member that my deviceis associated. v'

My device comprises a conduit 5, and, as before stated, thisconduit isconstructed and shaped to approximate the human throat as much aspossible. For this reason it may well be termed a throat. This throat isconnected to the tone arm 4 and depends therefrom in the manner shown,being closed at its lower end by a concave vibratory bot-' tom 6, justabove which is an opening 7 The margin of this opening is irregular andat the topit is such that it forms a depending ortion 8 which I term thepalate because its shape is similar to that of the human palate. Aportion of the concave bottom 6 extends outwardly beyond the palate andopeningland this portion may be properly termed the tongue, beingdesignated by the numeral 9. The lower end of the throat including thepalate and tongue extends through and into one of the open ends of thesound amplifying chamber 10 which is disposed at right angles to it.Examination of this chamber will disclose the fact that it issubstantially oval shaped, thus its interior is of a shape'whichapproximates that of the human mouth. Attention is directed to thefact that the throat and mouth are separated, thereby forming an airspace ll between them. Provision of this air space-1] is an importantfactor-of the invention in that it permits air to circulate through thechamber 10 so that the sound waves may be more effectively expelledtherefrom and will have greater carryingpower. It is to be noted that Ialso provide means for bringing about a circulation of'air. To this end,I form air openings 12 in the front of the cabinet. These openings maybe of any shape. However, the ones shown are substantially S-shaped. Iprefer to place these openings in close proximity to the governor.mechanism. The reason for this arrange ment resides in the'fact thatwhen the motor is in operation, the governor will cause a small quantityof air to circulate through the openings 12, after which it will passthrough the space 11 and into the chamber 10, thus insuring a proper andeffective expulsion of the sound Waves, which is not usuallyaccomplished. with this construction, the sound-waves are effectivelyexpelled by the air circulation and the carrying power is considerablyincreased. Attention is also directed to the fact that the tongue 9extends into the interior of the chamber for a dis tance so as toefiectively direct the soundwaves toward the outlet end of the chamber.

In operation the sound waves issuing from the tone arm 4 will bedirected downwardly through the throat 5 and will come into contact withthe concave bottom 6 thereby vibrating it and producing a very cleartone. From this point the musical sounds will be directed by the tongue9 into the chamber 10.

At this point it is to be stated that as the sound-waves leave thethroat 5 and pass through the opening 7 they are separated and equallydistributed into the chamber 10 by means of the palate 8. After enteringthe chamber the musical tones strike the surface thereof and aredeflected therefrom and pass out into the room.

The above results are accomplished by the construction employed and areinsured because of the already explained air circulation whicheffectively expels the musical sounds.

By carefully considering the foregoing description, persons skilled inthe art to which this invention appertains will be able to obtain aclear understanding of the device, therefore, further description isdeemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred form of the same, and thatvarious minor changes in the shape, size, and. arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit sound amplifierchamber, open at its oppo site ends, the lower end of said throatcarrying said opening andtongue, extending through one of the open endsof the chamber. 2. In a sound amplifier, the combination with a tonearm, of a throat connected thereto and depending therefrom, its lowerend being closed by a vibratory bottom, close to and above which is anopening, the upper margin of which is irregular, thus forming adepending portion of a shape approximating the human palate, a portionof said bottom extending outwardly beyond one side of the throat thusforming a tongue which is shaped to approximate the human tongue, and achamber of a shape corresponding to the mouth, arranged at right anglesto and communicating with saidthroat.

3. The combination with a music cabinet provided with the usual tone armand sound escape opening; of a throat connected to the tone arm andextending into said cabinet, an

open ended horn, having one end communi-- catingwith the aforesaidopening, its opposite end being closely spaced from and communicatingwith the open end of said throat, forming an air space between itselfand the throat, means in the cabinet for creating a circulation of air,and air inlet openings in the cabinet through which air is drawn by saidmeans, some of the air passing through the air space between the throatand horn and causing the sound waves to be effectively expelled from thelatter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM EDWARD PUGSLEY.

